La Mission Haut Brion 1985

Chateau La Mission Haut Brion

32 years

As this wine sat in the glass aerating, I began having some doubts about whether it merited a low-90s point score. I think it does, but the fact that it deteriorated more quickly than some of its siblings (even those from more challenging vintages) gave me pause. Nevertheless, I have to assume that most people will decant all of these wines (as I did) and consume them within an hour of opening. On that basis, this 1985 is clearly a low-90 point wine. The problem is that for the most part, 1985 does not have that extra level of concentration possessed by the great vintages. However, it offers a softness to go along with the fragility of the wines as most 1985s, including this La Mission-Haut-Brion, are fully mature. A dark plum/garnet color reveals a pinkish lightening at the edge, and the bouquet reveals plenty of smoke, camphor, charcoal, graphite, sweet kirsch and blacker fruit aromas intermixed with meaty, sauteed mushroom, cedar and spicy notes. The lovely aromatics are followed by flavors that do not quite match the intensity of the bouquet, a sign of a fully mature wine. This medium-bodied effort has plenty of glycerin, low acidity and not a trace of tannin. While not terribly generous, it is a soft, round, charming, delicious, very good La Mission, but not a great one. Drink it over the next decade.

Chateau La Mission Haut Brion is a top winery based in Bordeaux, France, located in the Pessac-Leognan appellation. The Chateau is in the famous wine growing region of Graves, with additional property in Talence. Chateau la Mission Haut Brion has been classified amongst the Grand Crus since the Graves Classification in 1953.

The chateau also produces a secondary wine labeled La Chapelle de la Mission since the 1991 vintage, mainly from its younger vines. A third, dry white wine named Chateau La Mission Haut Brion Blanc is also in production since the merger with Chateau Laville Haut Brion.

Not to be mistaken for the similar namesake Chateau Haut Brion, this prestigious winery repeatedly releases high grade wines at expensive prices, very well known for its remarkable bottle designs.